Best Used Sedan Cars in Australia 2025: The quick answer Aussies came for
- Automotive Globe Specialist
- Aug 18
- 6 min read
If you’re here to cut straight to it, these are the best used sedan cars in Australia 2025 for value, reliability, safety and easy ownership—plus what you should expect to pay right now in the Aussie market:
1) Toyota Camry (2018–2021, including Hybrid) — the safe, sensible all-rounder
Why buy: Big cabin/boot, smooth ride, cheap maintenance, and the Hybrid slashes fuel to ~5L/100km in real use.
Key specs to look for (2019 Camry Ascent Hybrid): 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol + e-motor, e-CVT auto, 160 kW system output, adaptive cruise, AEB, lane-keep. 5-star ANCAP (2017–2021 builds) and continued five-star coverage for 2021-on updates.
Price you should see (private-buy guide): ~$25k–$ 32k for a 2019 hybrid Ascent (indicative EGC). Petrol-only variants usually sit lower.
Battery health (Hybrid): In Australia, Toyota extends traction-battery coverage to 10 years (unlimited km) if you complete the annual Hybrid/Traction Battery Health Check from year 5 onwards—ask the seller for service history showing those checks.
Where to buy & availability: Commonly listed nationwide via major marketplaces/dealers, and often found under Toyota Certified stock at franchised dealers.
Safety: Five stars across these build years with AEB and LKA standard.
2) Mazda 6 (2018–2021) — the driver’s choice with a premium cabin
Why buy: Quiet, classy interior, superb steering, and strong 2.5-litre petrol (or 2.5T on GT/ Atenza).
Specs to check (2018 Sport sedan): 2.5 NA petrol ~140 kW/252 Nm, 6-speed auto, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto added in updates, safety suite including AEB. 5-star ANCAP with top adult/child protection scores in the 2018 update.
Price (private-buy guide): ~$22k–$25k for 2018 Sport sedan, verified by current Aussie pricing tools.
Battery health: Not a hybrid—no traction battery to worry about. Just check the 12V battery age as part of routine inspection.
Where to buy & availability: Strong national stock on dealer lots and private ads; run the VIN through service history at Mazda dealers.
3) Toyota Corolla Sedan (2019–2021) — small sedan, big reputation
Why buy: Ultra-low running costs, easy parking, and exceptional reliability/resale.
Specs to check (2019 Ascent Sport): 1.8L hybrid e-CVT or 2.0L petrol CVT/auto, AEB with cyclist/pedestrian detection, lane-trace, adaptive cruise.
Price (private-buy guide): ~$23k–$30k for a 2019 Ascent Sport sedan. Hybrids often command a premium.
Battery health (Hybrid): Same Toyota traction-battery program—ask for annual Hybrid Health Check records from year five to keep coverage up to 10 years.
Where to buy & availability: Abundant nationwide via marketplaces/dealers.
Safety: Corolla of this era carries strong active-safety spec; check ANCAP page for your exact build date.
4) Kia Cerato Sedan (2019–2021) — spec-heavy value, but check the safety pack
Why buy: Lots of kit for the money, long 7-year factory warranty when new, and heaps on the used market.
Specs (2019 S auto): 2.0L petrol 112 kW/192 Nm, 6-speed auto, CarPlay/Android Auto, camera/sensors depending on trim.
Price (private-buy guide): ~$18k–$29k for a 2019 S auto.
Safety gotcha: BD-series Cerato earned 5-star ANCAP overall, except the base S/Sport without Safety Pack 1 (those are 4-star). Confirm the car has the safety pack (AEB etc.) or step up a trim.
Where to buy & availability: Plenty listed nationally across dealers/private ads; late-model cars still under original warranty are common.
5) Honda Civic Sedan (2019–2020) — refined and reliable
Why buy: Comfortable, quiet, efficient; the 1.5T variants have extra punch.
Specs (2019 VTi-S / VTi-L): 1.8L NA or 1.5T petrol, CVT auto, driver-assist tech (AEB/LDW) varies by grade; 5-star ANCAP for this generation.
Price & availability: Real-world listings show 2019 sedans commonly low-$20ks depending on km, with broad national availability via dealers/private sellers.
Battery health: Not hybrid—routine check only.
6) Subaru Impreza Sedan (2018–2020) — affordable AWD peace of mind
Why buy: Standard AWD for wet-weather confidence and light touring; well-equipped cabin.
Specs (2019 2.0i-L): 2.0L petrol, CVT auto, AWD, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto; active-safety features depending on grade (EyeSight on higher trims).
Price (private-buy guide): ~$16k–$26k for a 2019 2.0i-L CVT.
Where to buy & availability: Consistent supply nationwide on marketplaces and dealer lots; verify timing for major services and CVT fluid maintenance.
7) Tesla Model 3 (2019–2021) — the used-EV sedan deal (with caveats)
Why buy: Quiet, fast, cheap “fuel,” and the most commonly used EV sedan in Australia, so lots of choice.
Specs (2019 Standard Range Plus): Single-motor RWD, ~190 kW, WLTP-ish range quoted around the 460–470 km mark when new; Performance and Long Range add power/dual-motor AWD.
Price (private-buy guide): ~$32k–$52k Performance. Check individual listing km/options.
Battery health & warranty: Early Model 3s carry 8-year battery/drive unit coverage with odometer caps (commonly 160,000 km for SR+, higher for LR/Performance). Pricing moves can be volatile; verify warranty terms on the VIN screen and request a battery health report (3rd-party scan or Tesla service) before paying a deposit.
Where to buy & availability: Very strong national supply via major marketplaces and Tesla trade-ins; expect a large spread of kms/condition.
What “battery health” means for sedans in this list
Hybrids (Camry/Corolla Hybrid): In Australia, Toyota’s Traction/Hybrid Battery Health Check is performed annually from year 5; maintaining those checks extends coverage up to 10 years (unlimited km) from first delivery. Ask for service invoices that state “Hybrid/Traction Battery Health Check” and confirm it’s been done each year since the 5-year mark. If missing, budget for a dealer check before you buy.
EV (Tesla Model 3): Battery State-of-Health (SoH) is the capacity vs. new. For private sales, request screenshots of the car’s range at 100% and service records; for peace of mind, organise a third-party SoH scan or a Tesla service inspection. Warranty for 2019 cars is 8 years with distance caps by variant; confirm on the car’s “Additional Vehicle Information” screen.
Conventional petrol sedans (Mazda 6, Cerato, Civic, Impreza): No traction battery; simply check the 12-V battery test result on the pre-purchase inspection.
Safety first (ANCAP you can rely on)
Toyota Camry: 5-star ANCAP; the 2017–2021 builds scored highly for occupant protection, and 2021-on updates continue five-star coverage.
Mazda 6 (2018 update): Five stars with excellent adult/child scores.
Honda Civic (2016–2021 sedan gen): Five stars for the generation (check equipment by grade).
Kia Cerato (BD): Five stars overall except base S/Sport without Safety Pack 1 (those are four stars). Verify the pack.
How to pick your winner (fast)
Set your size/usage: Long highway trips and family duty? Camry Hybrid or Mazda 6 City runabout that still fits four adults? Corolla Sedan or Cerato. Want AWD security? Impreza.
Fix your fuel type:
Hybrid for cheap urban running and strong resale (Camry/Corolla Hybrid).
Petrol for simplicity and lower buy-in (Mazda 6, Cerato, Civic, Impreza).
EV if you can charge at home and want minimal servicing (Model 3).
Verify safety & battery (if relevant): Check the ANCAP page for your exact build date; on Toyota hybrids, demand proof of Hybrid/Traction Battery Health Checks; on Tesla, ask for a battery SoH report or service inspection before committing.
Cross-check the price guide: Use the private-buy guides above as guardrails, then compare similar-km cars. If a price is far outside the guide, assume it needs extra due diligence.
Why these sedans win in Australia (2025 market reality)
Running costs, safety, and supply drive the second-hand sedan market. Toyota and Mazda dominate because they pair 5-star ANCAP safety with durable drivetrains and huge parts/service networks. Kia and Hyundai deliver newer tech and value, while Honda and Subaru offer polish and unique strengths (quiet refinement; AWD). And in 2025, used EV sedans like the Model 3 have become surprisingly affordable due to new-car price moves—great for buyers, as long as you verify battery condition and warranty.
Smart buying checklist
Confirm ANCAP for your exact build date and trim, especially Cerato S/Sport where the safety pack changes the rating.
Use the private-buy price guides referenced above to spot over/under-priced cars. If a car sits well below guide, budget extra for inspection.
For Toyota hybrids, ask for Hybrid/Traction Battery Health Check records after year 5; for Tesla, request a battery report or arrange a professional SoH check and verify remaining 8-year coverage.
Check for recall/software updates (e.g., recent Toyota instrument-display update for some 2022–2025 vehicles); dealers apply fixes free of charge.
State taxes & rego vary. The price guides here are indicative EGC (ex-govt charges). Always add stamp duty/transfer/reg to the budget.
FAQs
Q1) What’s the single best value pick right now?
For most Aussie buyers wanting comfort, space and minimal hassle, the Toyota Camry Hybrid (2018–2021) is the sweet spot: excellent economy, roomy, 5-star ANCAP, and strong used availability around mid-$20ks.
Q2) Which small sedan is cheapest to own?
Toyota Corolla Sedan (2019–2021)—parts are everywhere, fuel use is low (especially the Hybrid), and resale is strong; guide pricing ~$17k–$20k for 2019 models.
Q3) I want an engaging drive—what should I buy?
Mazda 6 (2018–2021). It’s quiet, classy and enjoyable on country roads, with the 5-star ANCAP safety net and fair buy-in ~$17k–$20k for 2018 Sport sedans.
Q4) Are used Teslas a good idea in 2025?
Yes—with due diligence. Model 3 prices are attractive, and the battery/drivetrain is covered by an 8-year warranty (distance-capped). Confirm battery health and warranty remaining on the specific VIN, and be mindful that prices shift with new-car market moves.
Q5) Which sedan has the best safety for P-platers?
All the main picks here carry 5-star ANCAP (with the Cerato caveat). Verify safety pack/driver-assist features on the specific car you’re buying, and check your state’s P-plate restrictions.
Q6) Where’s the best place to shop?
Start with major Australian marketplaces (dealer and private listings) and franchised dealers for brand-backed used stock. Use the private-buy price guides above to benchmark ads and negotiate.
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